These Peruvian women are waiting patiently to see an OBGYN specialist. In the past, the impoverished Peruvian village of Uratari had literally no medical care within a three-day walk. Frighteningly, approximately 10% of all children perished before the age of five, and 7% of women died during childbirth. As a result of Friends of Children’s generous supporters, The Denan Project has opened a new health clinic. With an OBGYN seeing patients two times a week, and vital access to ultrasound equipment, problem pregnancies are spotted early, and crucially needed pre-natal care is provided to significantly reduce mother and infant mortality.

In 1987, the Sisters of Mercy began their program working with poor children and their single mothers in Colon, Panama. With no more than a small rented corner space to provide services, the sisters worked with love and compassion to provide everything these desperate families needed — food, medicine, education, skill development, and tending to their spiritual needs.

On the day they opened their doors, a young mother came seeking help for her six children, including her little 2-year old boy, Nando. With the sisters’ help, Nando grew up healthy and is now the father of three children. Nando has not forgotten the gifts the sisters gave him. Today, though he works two jobs and struggles to provide for his family, Nando comes to the center every Saturday to help the poor children. He teaches them on donated computers, spending time with them as the sisters did with him and his brothers and sisters 24 years ago. And there are plenty of hugs to share also!

When you give to Friends of Children, you help create a ripple effect of giving that resonates through generations.

Christmas 2010:  The Navajo Reservation On the most impoverished lands of the Navajo Reservation, Christmas can be a time of great sadness.  Many parents lack the resources to buy their children presents.  And some, in their despondence, will abandon their children during Christmas rather than face them with the shame of empty hands.  Your thoughtful donations to Friends of Children help keep families together on the reservation.

Continue reading →